Lamp



J. T. VAN KIRK.

Lamp.

Patented July 17, 1860.

No. 29,221. I

UNITE E IQ J. T. VAN KIRK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO 0. A. VAN KIRK & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 29,221, dated July 17, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. T. VAN KIRK, of the city and county of Philadelphia and vState of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Device for Securing Glass Ch1mneys or Shades to Lamps, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of a tube containing a rod surrounded by a coiled spring and having a collar near one end and a disk or other suit-able handle at the opposite end, the whole being constructed, applied to and combined with the flange or projections which inclose the lower end of the glass chimneys or shades of lamps, etc, substantially in the manner described hereafter, so as to facilitate the removal and replacing of the said chimney without resorting to the usual set screw which becomes rapidly worn and inoperative andby which the glass chimney is frequently broken.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construct-ion and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification. Figure 1, is a side view of the upper portion or burner of a coal oil lamp, with my improvement. Fig. 2, a plan view of the same.

A is the collar or ferrule attached to the reservoir of the lamp, B the air chamber' containing the wick tube and having the usual flange 6 within which the cap 0 is confined. i

D is the chimney which in this class of lamps usually rests on the lower portion of the cap 0 within the flange b. To this flange I rivet or otherwise secure a metal tube G into which the enlarged end a of the rod H fits snu'gly but so as to move freely, the opposite end of this rod being furnished with a milled disk F of a convenient size for handling by the finger and thumb.

WVithin the tube G and surrounding the rod H is a coiled spring e which bears at one end against the collar formed by the enlarged end a of the rod, and atthe opposite end against the end of the-tube G, thus tending to press the rod inward and to maintain it in the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

The lower end of the glass chimney is flared in the usual manner so that it may be steadily maintained in its proper position, on one side by the lips h 72. which project y from the inside of the flange b and on the opposite side by the enlarged end a of the rod H. It will be readily seen that after pulling this rod outward, by means of its milled disk F, the glass chimney may be removed from its proper position on the cap and that it may be readily replaced by hold: ing the rod back until the flared end of the chimney rests on the cap, after which the rod is released.

The chimneys of coal oil and other lamps are usually held in their proper position by a screw passing through the flange Z) and bearing with its point against the side of the chinmey above the flared lower end.

There are several evils attending this use of ordinary set screws. By careless adjustment they are frequently brought to bear on the glass chimneys or shades so as to break the same. They are frequently lost and the threads of the screws are apt to become worn and inoperative; the ordinary screws, moreover, present a rigid unyielding point for the glass to bear against when it expands so that breakages of the chimneys and shades frequently take place. It will be readily seen without further description that these defects are obviated by my improvement. It will also be seen that although I have described my improvement as adapted to a coal oil lamp it is equally applicable to other lamps as well as to the securing of glass chimneys or shades to gas fixtures.

I wish it to be understood that I do not claim broadly the fastening of a glass chim ney or shade to a lamp by means of a spring in place of an ordinary set screw; but

I caim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- Combining the tube Gr, its rod H, and coiled spring e with the flange or projections which inclose the lower end of the chimney or shade of a lamp in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. T. VAN KIRK. 

